AutoX Wheels

[Mintsopoulos]

Looking for recommendations on a wheel size for AutoX. This will be a dedicated track package and I am thinking of a square setup in either 18x9.5 or 18x10.

20s are just not doing it for me.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

[Beyond_Ill]

Definitely 18x10 or better yet, 18x10.5. Ideal offset for 18x10 is ET25-33 and you can optimally fit wide compound 265s or 275s. Ideal offset for 18x10.5 is between ET34-40 but ET36 seems to be the sweet spot. To my knowledge, Bimmerworld are the only ones that make wheels in ET36 for this platform. 18x10.5 can fit 275-295 widths. Of course, spacers may be required depending on strut and tire clearance. You can get away with no spacers on 18x10 but it's recommended to run between 15-20mm (larger spacers for larger offsets) spacers in the front with 18x10.5. Hope this helps, Apex Wheels and Bimmerworld have fitment info on their sites if you need more clarification.

[M3SQRD]

Did you have a track day at RA with snow on the ground? I once had a track day at Summit Point and there’s was snow around the entire track with 10 DegF temps. It was a blast! Tires were lukewarm at the end of a session.

As for autox wheels, I’d run a 10.5” square setup or a staggered 10”/11” setup to maximize rear grip to better put the power down in a series of tight corners. What suspension are you running? Camber plates? The 10.5” setups require a decent amount of neg camber plus 15-25 mm spacers depending on your suspension setup and wheel width+tire width. A 295/295 or 285/285 square, or 285/305 or 295/305 staggered, tire setup would work well for autox. I personally find the F8x works better with a staggered setup but most run a square setup. I’m not sure a 295 tire will fit on a stock suspension. Check this thread for more info:
https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1555419

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Beyond_Ill

Definitely 18x10 or better yet, 18x10.5. Ideal offset for 18x10 is ET25-33 and you can optimally fit wide compound 265s or 275s. Ideal offset for 18x10.5 is between ET34-40 but ET36 seems to be the sweet spot. To my knowledge, Bimmerworld are the only ones that make wheels in ET36 for this platform. 18x10.5 can fit 275-295 widths. Of course, spacers may be required depending on strut and tire clearance. You can get away with no spacers on 18x10 but it's recommended to run between 15-20mm (larger spacers for larger offsets) spacers in the front with 18x10.5. Hope this helps, Apex Wheels and Bimmerworld have fitment info on their sites if you need more clarification.

Basically what this guy said.

10.5 square is better than 10 square, these are heavy cars and you might as well give them all the wheel/tire you can fit.
ET36 is a great offset, easily available from Bimmerworld.

[Mintsopoulos]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

Did you have a track day at RA with snow on the ground? I once had a track day at Summit Point and there’s was snow around the entire track with 10 DegF temps. It was a blast! Tires were lukewarm at the end of a session.

As for autox wheels, I’d run a 10.5” square setup or a staggered 10”/11” setup to maximize rear grip to better put the power down in a series of tight corners. What suspension are you running? Camber plates? The 10.5” setups require a decent amount of neg camber plus 15-25 mm spacers depending on your suspension setup and wheel width+tire width. A 295/295 or 285/285 square, or 285/305 or 295/305 staggered, tire setup would work well for autox. I personally find the F8x works better with a staggered setup but most run a square setup. I’m not sure a 295 tire will fit on a stock suspension. Check this thread for more info:
https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1555419

Well kinda...there were patches of snow/ice but it was still a hell of a lot of fun. My current 20inch wheel setup is doing me no favor but I knew that going in.

I am currently on BMW MP HAS, w/ NO camber plates. I was looking at getting a set of 18x10 from APEX as they have an awesome deal right now and I figured for this would be a good setup for a minimally competitive setup. I am not looking to dive full bore into AutoX but I would definitely like a more competent setup to compete with.

[SYT_Shadow]

get yourself some camber plates as well! super important mod

[Mintsopoulos]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

get yourself some camber plates as well! super important mod

For somebody that is going to do this as a hobby and not hardcore competitive, a 10” will do well for me correct? Apex is having a badass sale at the moment and 10 et25 is what’s available.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Mintsopoulos

For somebody that is going to do this as a hobby and not hardcore competitive, a 10” will do well for me correct? Apex is having a badass sale at the moment and 10 et25 is what’s available.

ET25 is really aggressive in the rear, I would not run this. I had a 10" ET25 Apex setup I ended up selling because it fit so poorly on my F80.

10 vs 10.5 is not about competing, it's about buying the right thing from the beginning or not. 10" will work, but 10.5" will work better.

[Mintsopoulos]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

ET25 is really aggressive in the rear, I would not run this. I had a 10" ET25 Apex setup I ended up selling because it fit so poorly on my F80.

10 vs 10.5 is not about competing, it's about buying the right thing from the beginning or not. 10" will work, but 10.5" will work better.

Gotcha. I can get 10.5 et40. What would you recommend as far as offset?

Or I can do a 10” et25 in the front and a 10.5” et 40 or 10.5” et22 in the rear for a semi staggered setup??

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Mintsopoulos

Gotcha. I can get 10.5 et40. What would you recommend as far as offset?

Or I can do a 10” et25 in the front and a 10.5” et 40 or 10.5” et22 in the rear for a semi staggered setup??

Square setups allow you to rotate the tires around to get more life out of them. If you don't go staggered, at least maximize your front and rear fitments.
Said differently:
Square: 10.5x4ET40
Staggered: 10.5x2ET25+11x2ET44

ET40 works well in the rear and up front will require a 20mm spacer.

If you were to get 10.5 front and rear with a different offset, you'd still not be able to rotate your wheels and you also would not be maximizing your rear fitment.

[Mintsopoulos]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Square setups allow you to rotate the tires around to get more life out of them. If you don't go staggered, at least maximize your front and rear fitments.
Said differently:
Square: 10.5x4ET40
Staggered: 10.5x2ET25+11x2ET44

ET40 works well in the rear and up front will require a 20mm spacer.

If you were to get 10.5 front and rear with a different offset, you'd still not be able to rotate your wheels and you also would not be maximizing your rear fitment.

I understand I would lose the ability to rotate which is a trade off I’m willing to make for a bit more rear grip but I am looking to keep the cost relatively low. So here are my wheel options at the moment:

18x10 et25
18x10.5 et22
18x10.5 et40

With that said. What would be best combination for front and rear? Also trying to avoid spacers beyond 5mm.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Mintsopoulos

I understand I would lose the ability to rotate which is a trade off I’m willing to make for a bit more rear grip but I am looking to keep the cost relatively low. So here are my wheel options at the moment:

18x10 et25
18x10.5 et22
18x10.5 et40

With that said. What would be best combination for front and rear? Also trying to avoid spacers beyond 5mm.

just do 18x10.5ET40 all around. It'll require a 20mm spacer up front, which is fine, and allow you to rotate while not giving up any grip vs the options you have available

[ilia]

Hi,
I run 18X10 et 25. I do have camber plates up front with 2.5 degrees and rear is maxed out at around 2 degrees of negative camber. I’m on MPHAS as well. The tires I was successfully running without any rubbing issues are:
275/35-18 (Federal 595 RS-RR)
265/40-18 (Yokohama Advan AO52)
285/35-18 (Hankook Ventus R-S4) with 5mm spacer up front.

Hope this helps.

[Mintsopoulos]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

just do 18x10.5ET40 all around. It'll require a 20mm spacer up front, which is fine, and allow you to rotate while not giving up any grip vs the options you have available

A spacer that big won’t cause any issues? I just never really messed with spacers in any capacity.

[Mintsopoulos]

Originally Posted by ilia

Hi,
I run 18X10 et 25. I do have camber plates up front with 2.5 degrees and rear is maxed out at around 2 degrees of negative camber. I’m on MPHAS as well. The tires I was successfully running without any rubbing issues are:
275/35-18 (Federal 595 RS-RR)
265/40-18 (Yokohama Advan AO52)
285/35-18 (Hankook Ventus R-S4) with 5mm spacer up front.

Hope this helps.

Pictures?

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Mintsopoulos

A spacer that big won’t cause any issues? I just never really messed with spacers in any capacity.

OEM BMW racecars come with 41mm spacers up front, so you are pretty safe with 20mm.

Earlier, someone suggested the Bimmerworld ET36 wheel setup in 10.5. The advantage there vs the ET40 wheels you want to buy is the BW wheel only requires a 15mm up front.

Again, with the appropriate lug nuts or studs, you should be fine with 20mm spacers.

[ilia]

Current hankook setup:

[ilia]

Yokohama tires

[ilia]

If you are local to Libertyville,IL and want to try out the 18x10 et 25 with the Hankook 285/35’s, they are off my car currently you’re welcome to it. I also have the ECS spacer fittment kit.

[Mintsopoulos]

Originally Posted by ilia

If you are local to Libertyville,IL and want to try out the 18x10 et 25 with the Hankook 285/35’s, they are off my car currently you’re welcome to it. I also have the ECS spacer fittment kit.

I appreciate the photos! I am actually in st Charles so not terribly far from you. I did just pull the trigger on 18x10 et25 FL5s. I may have to tag along with you on an AutoX day.


After talking to Apex, this seemed the best way to go as it required no suspension camber adjustments. So it’s a very quick and easy swap from street wheels to track setup. And I can even daily the “track” setup. So that was the best option for me.

[M3SQRD]

Originally Posted by Mintsopoulos

I appreciate the photos! I am actually in st Charles so not terribly far from you. I did just pull the trigger on 18x10 et25 FL5s. I may have to tag along with you on an AutoX day.


After talking to Apex, this seemed the best way to go as it required no suspension camber adjustments. So it’s a very quick and easy swap from street wheels to track setup. And I can even daily the “track” setup. So that was the best option for me.

Did Apex let you know they’ve discontinued this wheel design? Unless you buy spares now then you’ll likely be in a tough position if you bend a wheel. The FL-5 is a nice split 5-spoke wheel design which looks aggressive with the wheel lip.

275 tires are the best size to run with good rim support. 285 works but rim support is borderline depending on which 285 you run. I’m running a MPS4S 285 on an 18x10et17 on my e92 M3 street setup and works great; however, I’d go down to a 275 if it’s for the track/autox. 275 on an 18x10et25 is an aggressive setup, the 285 may rub on the fender.

[Mintsopoulos]

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

Did Apex let you know they’ve discontinued this wheel design? Unless you buy spares now then you’ll likely be in a tough position if you bend a wheel. The FL-5 is a nice split 5-spoke wheel design which looks aggressive with the wheel lip.

275 tires are the best size to run with good rim support. 285 works but rim support is borderline depending on which 285 you run. I’m running a MPS4S 285 on an 18x10et17 on my e92 M3 street setup and works great; however, I’d go down to a 275 if it’s for the track/autox.

They did so I made sure to put an order of 5 just in case. I figured it was a relatively cheap investment for a competitive hobby I can enjoy a handful of times a year.

The FL5 is such a pretty wheel and at an awesome. I couldn’t pass it up even with the discontinuation.